Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-10
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IN SHROUDS OF SNOW.
THE STRANGE SIGHT A SQUADRON
OF CAVALRY SAW.

Eight Savages Sitting Stiff and Dead as
Figures of Store-The Event of a De-
cember Day-Brayes Caught by Biz
zard.
1t was strange sight they saw-a squadron
of cavalry riding from Fort Benton TO Fort
Shaw, UP the great southern branch OF the
Missouri river. Three miles back from the
stream, Oh the level prairie, the chinook
winds and the sun OF May day had melted
the snow away until eight human bodies
were uncovered.
Eight savages in hunters outfit. Eight
dark skinned, fierce proved denizens Of plain
and prairie and foot hills seated in a circle,
heads down, arms folded-stif and dead as
figures Of stone. Within a radius of a mile
the hot sun was rapidly uucovering the bod
les OF eight ponies-staryed, shrunkcn and
lying with legs drawn up.
1t was u sight worth hating to see.
1t is a December day, crisp and clear. The
SKY is without fecE, and the sun softens
the inch or two Of snow on the ground at
high noon. From the north bend OF the
Marias river, within a hundred miles Of the
Canadian line, partvOf Indians set out the
day before TO return to their village Mt Great
Falls, on the Missouri. at noon today they
have still thirty miles to go.
Look up to the heavens and tell me il you
ever saw 4 more serene sky on a winters
day. Look TO the right or the left-at the
great powders half covered with their white
mantles-at the hare skurTying over the snow
at the distant figures Of the buffaloes max
ing for the shelter Of tho foot hills, and tell
me if You have the least cause FOR anxiety!
4 LOOK OF ANXIETY
What is itl Almost in tie wave of hand
the gentle chinook wind has ceased to blow,
the heat OF the sun has died away, and there
Is a chill i'll the air. The band halts a look
OF anxiety comes to every bronZad face 1t
is not a phenomenon with those hardy red
skins. They know wha: is coming. They
gather in circle 10 ask and answer few
questions, and then every face IS set towards
the Missouri, and every horse is urged TO the
top of his speed.
An enemy in sight? Yes. White men
hunters or soldiers? No. To the northwest
across the three great spurs Of the Rocky
mountaius-acros5 the Dominion-withln the
gateway of tie Arctic circle nature was in
travail last night. From tho depths of eter-
nal ice and snow q blizzard was born to DO
sent forth across a great continent. 1t was
given the wings OF an eagle and a mantle of
snow. All night long it has been flying to the
southeast, gathering new strength as it
whiried over the gloomy mountains-increas-
ing Its vigor Is it swept over the frozen Lakes
and bays. The redskins haveaIdden fast, but
tine biiZzaTd has come faster.
There comes sudden cniil-tho sun loses
IFS Is fealf tl,a
blue sky. 1t is the warning of the blizzard
The deadly snake rattles before it strikes.
The cruel blizzard sounds brief warning be-
fore it enwraps its victims. The red men
ride fast 1t is thirty miles to shelter-thirty
miles of treeics<, almost level plain. The
haze grows darker-the sun is veiled-tLe
chill is more keen. 1t is vain ride Swoop-
ing down over she rocky range at their backs
in a blast of fury, the blizzard rushes across
the plain like a winged demon let loose
There are a few flakes Of snow, still greater
darkening OF the day, and then, as q panther
leaps upon its prey, the icy storm struck the
redskins down.
THE REvELRY OF DEATH.
There are men who have encountered the
blzz1ri rs IT rushed fresh from It's lair III the
Arctic circle Those who i've TO tell Of it
bear the scars Of battle. II it is terrible to
us after it has crossed a continent, losing its
force and sting at avery mile, what must It be
in its new born vigor! There is furious
whirl or snow-the darkness OF night-a
howiing, screaming wind travelling faster
than anything which flies North, east,
south, west are blotted out III ten seconds
The eyes Of q tiger could not penetrate that
wnirl three feet. The panther With u cub
beside howlder ten feet away might search
for il and miss.
Ii is a screaming, bowling, shIiekinS rev.
elry of death, and the victims are there. The
horses stopped IN their tracks at the first wild
blast Their riders dlsmouuted and crowded
close together.
4 white man would have run hithcr and
thither until he fell from exhaustion. The
Indians sank down, wrapped their blankets
around them and saved their strength to die
rs stoics. And thus they died. One hour of
that icy breath would have toppled over
buffalo.
There may have been death song The
was chanUed by the thousand furies
circ ing ABOUT. There may have been fare.
wells but none lived 10 remember As they
sat with bowed heads the chill of death came
to their hearts, the snow crept higher and
higher until it hid them from sight. 1t was
wild burial, even for. savages.
We VIII ride on. Let the suns OF May I'M
cover the dead for those vino mourn them in
the lodges beside the Missouri-M Quad in
Detroit Free Press.